Students and youth in Canada are left helpless, falling into a loophole of Canada’s COVID-19 relief strategies that results in no job prospects and no government financial aid for this demographic. While many Canadians are able to access the government support of $2,000 per month, many youths in the country cannot. Dealing with changes in educational access, the ability to be hired for summer and part-time work, and the loophole in the relief funding, many students and youth in Canada are struggling.

While the relief bill in Canada that allows access to $2,000/month has expanded to part-time and seasonal workers, it has not yet expanded to students and youth. Currently, in order to be eligible for the government financial aid, applicants must have earned at least $5,000 in the past 12 months or in 2019 as a whole. Many students who work casual part-time jobs or only during the summer months do not qualify.

The Canadian government did say that they are committed to closing the gaps in the relief bill. While their initial focus was getting money to as many people as possible, they have said that they will continue to fine-tune the criteria for accessing the aid. Sign this petition to urge Canada to include students and youth in their COVID-19 relief bill.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

During the COVID-19 global pandemic, students and youth are greatly affected. Not only are they facing changes to educational access and job prospects, but they also lack funding for their daily lives. Your current COVID-19 relief efforts include $2,000/month allowance to workers who have made at least $5,000 in the last 12 months or in 2019 as a whole, but this criteria largely excludes students who usually work part-time jobs that pay very little or only work during the summer months when they are not studying.

Canada has announced that they are looking to close the gaps in their COVID-19 relief efforts. I urge you to include students and youth in your $2,000/month aid package.